NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streaking

NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streak in the penultimate week

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in front of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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NBA, 76ers (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

19. San Antonio Spurs

Last Week: Lost/OT to Philadelphia 76ers 113-111, Lost to Utah Jazz 110-99, Lost to Utah Jazz 126-94, Beat Sacramento Kings 113-104, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 124-102

This Week: 5/10 vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 5/12 at Brooklyn Nets, 5/13 at New York Knicks, 5/15 vs. Phoenix Suns, 5/16 vs. Phoenix Suns

Dealing with the most difficult remaining schedule has gone about as poorly as expected for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs won the one game they absolutely had to win to help cement their spot in the play-in, knocking off the Sacramento Kings. Entering the final week of the season San Antonio has a two-game lead on the New Orleans Pelicans and now a three-game cushion over the Kings.

The Spurs do have a chance to move up to eighth or ninth, but that would require pulling off a number of upsets while the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies would have to falter. Facing down the gauntlet of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns twice will make that nigh impossible, but the Spurs have been fighting all season.

Missing Derrick White will not make the task at hand any easier. The Spurs have relied all season on having somewhere between five and eight players averaging double digits in scoring each week to have a chance on a given night. With that number dropping to five more often than not of late, without anyone actually upping their average, facing four top teams over the course of the week will be an impossible challenge.